The NFL's 50 Biggest Collisions in League History (with Video)

The NFL's 50 Biggest Collisions in League History (with Video)

0 of 50

The National Football League has always been a place where you could find a little bit of everything, from drama and intrigue to violent hits and swan-like runs, from passes that fly 50 yards to interceptions that are returned 100 yards.

The one thing football has never lacked is entertainment and headlines. Whether you were a fan of the Oakland Raiders and Jack Tatum or the New York Giants and Lawrence Taylor, football is passion for most of us.

Tonight I am going to focus on the 50 greatest collisions in NFL history.

50. Steve Atwater Absolutely Destroys the "Nigerian Nightmare"

1 of 50

It doesn't seem like the hardest of hits, but if you remember Okoye from the 1980s, you know we was hard to bring down.

It looked like the former Kansas City Chiefs running back just hit a wall, and the wall's name was Steve Atwater.

It has been said Atwater is one of the 10 hardest hitters in NFL history, and this video proves that point to its utmost.

49. Brett Favre Gets Hit in the Groin

2 of 50

Just because it happened at practice and not in a real game, and the suspect was a football and not a player, doesn't mean this shouldn't be on the list.

On another note, if you are a guy and have ever been hit in the groin, you do have to feel bad for Favre on this one. It isn't a pleasant situation—just look at him crawling on the ground afterwards.

It wasn't the hardest of collisions, but the scenario makes it so great. Polamalu, who has made a history of turning opposing players into roadkill, got a taste of his own medicine here.

22. Corey Wootten Pretty Much Ends Brett Favre's Career

29 of 50

You don't want to see this happen to anyone and for Brett Favre is guaranteed an end to his long, illustrious career.

Corey Wootton smacks Favre down on the ground in this game played at the University of Minnesota. I still wonder what Mr. Favre was thinking as he lays down on the turf not moving.

21. Chad Johnson Gets Hit and Forgets He Is American

30 of 50

This past year, Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers filed to change his name to "Metta World Peace."

This comes a couple years after Chad Johnson decided to name himself after his jersey number, Ochocinco.

The common denominator?

Both did so following an epic hit that saw them hit the pine or grass extremely hard. My conspiracy theory here is they forgot their names, had a little bit of amnesia or just wanted to start anew.

Here, Ochocinco, Johnson or whatever you want to call him, was absolutely lit up by the Cleveland Browns.

20. Darren Woodson Levels Darrell Jackson

31 of 50

The beginning of the "No Fun League," Darren Woodson absolutely levels Darrell Jackson on this play.

Unfortunately, the referees blew the call here. They said he led with his helmet, but it was his shoulder.

I wasn't a fan of the Cowboys growing up, but Woodson was one heck of a football player.

19. Danny Amendola Still Hears This Hit on His iPod

32 of 50

The announcer says it best, "This is the energy they have been missing in Detroit."

Well, this hit was hard enough to change the rotational axis of the Earth. That is enough energy for me.

Danny Amendola is lucky his head didn't come flying off like an alien's head in Battle of L.A.

18. Brandon Jacobs Destroys LaRon Landry

33 of 50

What makes this hit so awesome is the rivalry between the two. Jacobs runs Landry over like a semi hitting a Honda Civic; probably one of the most "bone-jarring" hits in recent NFL history.

17. LaRon Landry Returns to the Favor

34 of 50

Some of you knew this had to be coming with the last slide. LaRon Landry tells the "punk" Brandon Jacobs exactly what is up here.

Even as a West Coast guy, I have to say there is nothing better than NFC East division matchups. Boy, do they get violent.

16. Terrell Owens Acts the Part of a Fool and Gets Lit Up

35 of 50

Anyone who has been involved in the Dallas Cowboys' and San Francisco 49ers' rivalry remembers this game like it was yesterday.

Terrell Owens decided it would make sense to celebrate on the Cowboys' start following his two touchdowns. The second time, George Teague wasn't having any of it.

He absolutely lit up the enigmatic receiver and said, "Not in my house." Even as a 49ers fan, I would have to say that Teague was well-warranted in hitting T.O.—I would have done the same thing.

This was the last of the 49ers-Cowboys rivalry games and signaled an end of 20 years of hostility between the two teams.

One of the best parts of this video is the Eminem song that plays during it. Can you say "old school?"

15. Roy Williams: One of the Hardest Hitters Ever

36 of 50

In his heyday, Roy Williams was one of the hardest hitters in the NFL.

Here, he lights up Tai Streets, whose lights would go out shortly thereafter.

Now, only if Williams could cover worth a darn...

14. Dick Butkus. Need I Say More?

37 of 50

If you watched this entire video you could probably find 10 hits that belong on this list. Dick Butkus was one crazy guy on the football field. He scared opponents, destroyed entire teams and didn't apologize for it.

The Chicago Bears have had some of the hardest hitters in the history of the NFL; Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher come to mind.

But you have to say Butkus takes the cake on this one.

Go to about 0:22 on the video, and you will know what I am talking about.

13. The Catch II: Terrell Owens Holds on After Being Destroyed

38 of 50

This was one of my favorite plays as a San Francisco 49ers fan growing up. It has since been called, "The Catch II."

But something was completely lost in it.

Look at the Green Bay Packers treating Owens like a human pinball. He bounced off one defender and right to the other. I still have a hard time comprehending how he held onto the ball.

Still one of the craziest hits in modern NFL history.

12. Ray Lewis Uses Men Like Toys in the NFL

39 of 50

You cannot tell me that Dustin Keller still doesn't have second thoughts when going up the middle. Ray Lewis laid the former Purdue tight end out like no one's business.

The response from the fans in this video sums it up the best.

11. The NFL Hates James Harrison, but You Have to Love Him

40 of 50

Was this hit worth $75,000, Mr. Harrison?

He will probably tell you it was. It really does look like Mohamed Massaquoi was looking to call for his mom after this play.

Either way, NFL players need to learn not to mess with James Harrison. It really is that simple; he is an absolute beast.

10. Cedric Griffin Tells Billy Miller, "Nice Play, But..."

41 of 50

New Orleans Saints tight end Billy Miller, catches a long completion, but finds a wall down field.

9. Wes Welker Looks Like a Ragdoll

Clark really did treat Wes Welker like a ragdoll on this play. The small Patriots receiver looked to have run into a wall in a rubber room here.

The problem is, there's no rubber on Clark's uniform.

8. James Harrison Gives His Best Mike Curtis Impersonation

43 of 50

If you remember the Mike Curtis slide earlier in this slideshow, then you will understand the title.

James Harrison really doesn't like the Browns, but it seems he has less patience for drunk fans running onto the field.

As I stated before, any fan who pulls this crap should get tackled. After all, they want to be on the field, right?

At least the Browns fan admits his drunken mistake.

But really man, it didn't hurt?

7. Chuck Bednarik Was Annoyed by Frank Gifford Too

44 of 50

This is the only video I could find on this hit, but it has to be one of the greatest hits in the history of the NFL.

It doesn't hurt that Bednarik wasn't just one of the greatest linebackers to every play the game, he was also one heck of a center.

I still remember my grandfather telling me stories about his hits. It is too bad we don't have a lot of videos on him.

Go to about 2:05 on the video to see the hit. If it is the first time you have seen it, enjoy.

6. "Dirty Dog" Brandon Meriweather Uses Helmet as a Weapon

45 of 50

Never mind that this was one of the dirtiest hits I have seen in a long time. The impact of the hit is probably still felt by Todd Heap.

Helmet-to-helmet collisions are dangerous, but when they are dirty like this, it leaves you questioning someone's motives.

5. Ray Lewis Determined to Turn Ochocinco into an "Oompa Loompa"

46 of 50

"This just isn't fair," cries Ochocinco following a devastating hit that cost Ray Lewis $25,000. I just love how the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver was crying to the referees following the hit.

Hey dude, you made the decision to go up the middle against the Ravens' defense.

Remember, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are there.

4. Earl Campbell Runs a Tractor over a Rams Defender

47 of 50

Earl Campbell was one of the last of a dying breed. He wasn't one of those finesse runners we see too often today.

Instead Campbell wasn't afraid to mix it up with the real men up the middle. Here, he gives a Rams player a head-butt to the mid-section.

Pretty epic.

3. Kevin Everett Breaks His Neck on This Brutal Play

48 of 50

This slideshow is all about biggest collisions in NFL history, so the hit on Kevin Everett had to be in the top five.

The play didn't look too bad live, but upon replay you know exactly what happened. It was an earth-shattering collision between Everett and Dominique Hixon.

The former Buffalo Bills player has since regained movement in his arms and legs.

2. Joe Theismann's Career Comes to an End

49 of 50

This is a play that still reverberates around the National Football League. It was a Monday Night game in the 1980s against two division rivals, the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins.

Washington had dominated the division for most of the decade, but Lawrence Taylor made sure their star quarterback wouldn't be part of it anymore.

It isn't the hardest collision you will ever see, but the impact was greater than any hit before or since.

1. Darryl Stingley's Career Comes to a Premature End

50 of 50

Up until the last few slides I have tried to have fun with this slideshow, but I do have to end it on a serious note.

It was the late 1970s; the Oakland Raiders were among the NFL's best franchises, and the Patriots were an up-and-coming team. The scene was Oakland, the hit made by Hall of Fame Oakland Raider, Jack Tatum. The victim was an up-and-coming wide receiver named Darryl Stingley.

The result represented more than football. Instead, it showed you exactly how fragile life can be. Stingley was going up the middle and lowered his head to brace for a collision with Tatum. This caused the Patriots receiver's neck to compress and his spinal cord to snap.

The tragic story doesn't end there.

In 2007, Stingley was found dead in his Illinois home. The cause of death was reported to be complications from quadriplegia. Stingley was only 55 years old.